Suez Canal Revenues Near $4.7 Billion as Traffic, Tonnage Rise

The Suez Canal Authority reported strong operational and financial performance for fiscal year 2025/26, with revenues approaching $4.7 billion, supported by higher vessel traffic and increased cargo volumes despite earlier disruptions in the Red Sea region.

Lieutenant General Osama Rabie, Chairman of the Suez Canal Authority, said canal traffic rose around 10% year-on-year, while total tonnage increased by 22%, and foreign-currency revenues climbed by 23% over the same period.

Speaking during a televised interview, Rabie said the improvement reflects a gradual recovery in maritime activity following a period of regional tensions in the Red Sea that had previously weighed on global shipping routes and transit volumes.

He added that approximately 13,000 vessels passed through the canal during the fiscal year, with activity steadily recovering toward pre-crisis levels. According to Rabie, shipping lines are beginning to return, supported by improving regional stability and renewed confidence in the route’s reliability.

The authority expects revenues to exceed $4.7 billion for the fiscal year, representing an increase of about 13% compared with the previous period, driven by both higher traffic and improved cargo flows.

Rabie said the gradual easing of regional tensions has played a key role in restoring traffic through one of the world’s most important maritime corridors, which links the Red Sea to the Mediterranean and serves as a critical artery for global trade.

He noted that the canal is steadily regaining levels close to those seen before the recent disruption, with additional shipping lines expected to resume transits in the coming months.

Beyond transit operations, the Suez Canal Authority is also expanding its industrial footprint through efforts to localize maritime manufacturing in Egypt.

Rabie highlighted significant development at the South Red Sea Shipyard, which has evolved into a regional hub for building marine vessels, including tugboats, yachts and fishing ships.

The authority has also secured contracts to build vessels for several African countries, including Comoros, Mauritania, Ethiopia and Yemen, as part of a broader strategy to strengthen regional cooperation and expand Egyptian exports in the maritime sector.

Rabie said the authority is also advancing projects focused on environmentally friendly maritime transport, including the production of electric river buses and yachts, as well as the development of supporting charging infrastructure.

He emphasized that localizing the maritime industry would deliver multiple economic benefits, including reducing foreign currency outflows, lowering import dependence, and creating new employment opportunities while strengthening Egypt’s industrial base.